Pagasa expects fair weather despite approaching typhoon

Project NOAH MTSAT image as of October 19, 2013, 5:01 AM. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines—Fair weather is predicted to prevail over most parts of the country over the weekend despite an approaching typhoon, the weather bureau said on Friday.

The typhoon (international name “Francisco”), which will be given the local name “Urduja,” is predicted to only lightly graze the country’s northern areas when it enters the country’s area of responsibility by weekend or Monday, forecasters said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Urduja would likely head for southern Japan without having much effect on any part of the country.

Cold months

“We expect generally fair weather nationwide,” forecaster Jun Galang said.

Pagasa earlier announced the onset of the northeast monsoon, locally known as “hanging amihan,” signaling the beginning of the cold months, especially in northern Luzon.

Based on Pagasa’s 24-hour weather outlook, Ilocos Region, the Cordillera Administrative Region and Cagayan Valley will experience scattered light rains.

Metro Manila and the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, Pagasa said.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the northeast will prevail over Luzon and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough, it added.

Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate coming from the northeast to north with slight to moderate seas, it said.